Classic Arts Showcase (http://www.classicartsshowcase.org) Is an educational program which is what so many other cable networks hint they might be. It provides, commercial free, exerpts from performances of classical music, opera and ballet. Many of these performances are historical, and some are current. While many are from relatively unknown performers, we've seen in the first week of it being available here on massachusetts media one Daniel Barenboim, the Kirov Ballet and The Chamber orchestra of Europe, Naxos is represented by some of their artists. With the frequent round of complaints of the loss of classical radio and programming, this network is a bright spot, and it might well be worth a few hundred dollars a year in video tape rentals from Tower (don't go there...) to see if your local cable company can be persuaded that at least one channel needs to be made available for this. At this moment performance of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, though only the first three secions- in very good sound reproduction - is the fare. Unlike NPR - no Yanni, no filler, no fundraising. And what other network will bring you Schubert songs? Truly - rouse thyself, to bring this one corner of light. stirling s newberry [log in to unmask] http://www.mp3.com/ssn